It amazes me how much can change in just one year. On January 1, 2016 I never imagined I would’ve had the year that I had. I went from losing my job to beginning a work from home career; from losing my church and spiritual support to having ideas and hopes of starting a ministry of my own in the near future; from almost losing my family to our family being restored which brought the blessings of marriage and a baby on the way! These are just a few of the big examples that are evidence of God’s unfailing mercies ESPECIALLY when we are doing everything to fail. Even at my worst, grace showed up and rescued me. God’s grace, is the only reason I can sit here and KNOW that I am loved, blessed, and highly favored today.

As the end of 2016 was approaching I began to think of what I can do to make sure that 2017 will be better. After the year I had, I really wanted to start this new year off right. I want to continue to better my life while at the same time honoring the Lord for all he has done to help me overcome my 2016 struggles. As I thought about new year’s resolutions I realized that I haven’t even made any in years. I guess after trying but failing to stay committed to them time after time I just stopped believing in the whole idea of it. So since the typical new year’s resolution thing didn’t really work for me I thought…

What else CAN I do to set goals for 2017 that will be more effective for my lifestyle? What do I hope to see happen this year and how can I make them happen? What do I want for my marriage, my kids, my career, etc.?

As I pondered these questions I realized that there really wasn't anything that I desired more for 2017 other than what the Lord’s plans and promises are for me and my family. Whatever the father desires for us; nothing more, nothing less. So I decided that this year, instead of making new year’s resolutions I would seek God for biblical promises to stand on and be expectant of the great things that are to come out of believing in them. I will simply trust in the Lord to be the change instead of trying to change on my own.

I wanted to share with you the scriptures that I will be believing in and living for in 2017! I hope that you also find inspiration in them. I am certain that what the word of God says applies to me and my family, also applies to you and yours! I hope you all have a very blessed and joy filled 2017!

Before I list all of the scriptures, here is one for all of us!

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love – Romans 8:38

Did you get that?! Not even the powers of hell can stop him from loving us! Let this be a reminder that God’s love is not just surface love. It unconditional and has so much depth! His love is grace, mercy, forgiveness, understanding, comfort, peace, promise, provision, joy, favor, honor, glory, healing, salvation, redemption, freedom, eternal life! His love is who he is! It is everything good and all that we need! Stand on this scripture alone for the new year and you can’t go wrong!

Love & Blessings!

**Keep reading below for the specific areas of my life where I will be expectantly trusting in God this new year ahead; along with the scriptures and a little bit of my own personal thoughts about what I believe God is calling me to hope for in each area.

Scripture Promises to Stand on for 2017

[For Me Personally]

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! –Luke 1:45

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.I have called you by name; you are mine.When you go through deep waters,I will be with you.When you go through rivers of difficulty,you will not drown.When you walk through the fire of oppression,you will not be burned up;the flames will not consume you. – Isaiah 43:1-2

I believe that the Lord really wants me to simply know that I am his and he is always in control. I need to stop trying to earn grace and just live confidently in his promises of who I am in Christ. I think that this year he is calling me to a whole new place of surrender requiring me to completely rely on him and only him.

[For My Marriage]

This is my prayer for you: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ - Philippians 1:9-10

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. –Romans 12:9-10

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. –Proverbs 12:4

My hopes for my marriage in 2017 is for my husband and I to continue to grow closer together in love for one another but most importantly to grow in love together with the father. The Lord has done so much to restore our relationship and I just want our marriage to glorify God as much as possible. As a wife I would love to see God bring me to a deeper knowledge of the wife that he designed me to be and teach me to conduct myself in a manner that always honors and respects my husband above myself and never shames him.

[For Raising My Kids]

but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments - Exodus 20:6

observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. -1 Chronicles 28:8

As a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you –Deuteronomy 8:5

This area of my life was hard for me to reflect on because as I brought it to the Lord to seek out scriptures I felt so much conviction as I haven’t been leading by the best example as a mom. I am a yeller and sometimes my anger with my kids brings me to a point of cussing at them. My words and my actions often fall short of gentle discipline and I honestly hate that about myself! So my hopes for raising my kids in 2017 is for the Lord to teach me how to reflect his love towards my kids and discipline gently and gracefully.

[For My Career]

Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established –Proverbs 16:3

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus –Philippians 1:6

My career is completely in the lord’s hands as I continue to learn new things about being a WAHM (that means Work At Home Mom for those of you who were wondering). I still feel so intimidated by the drastic change but since I started Unhindered Design I have begun to dream again. I have lots of ideas for things in the future that reach beyond blogging so I’m super excited, and scared! But I will continue to trust in the father’s ways because I don’t think he would’ve brought me this far to only bring me this far.

[For My Finances]

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. –Psalm 34:10

There is so much power in this scripture all by itself. I have never really been one to worry much about monetary or material things but now that I have kids and no job I worry on a daily basis! So for the new year I believe that God is challenging me in a whole new way to trust in his provisions. He always has, and I know he always will provide for our needs. So no reason to worry, Those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing! I mean, what more does anyone need but that, right?!

[For My Health and My Pregnancy]

The prayer that is offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise them up. -James 5:15

I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born – Isaiah 66:9

I know that illness is never God’s will but for whatever reason it happens to so many of us in many different ways. Thankfully the health issues that I have been suffering from for the past 7 months are due to pregnancy which means that they are only temporary. But in regards to illness in general I believe that God can use it all for his good by allowing it to bring us to a place of resting in his presence and trusting in him for healing. Although this pregnancy has been hard, I cannot wait for our new baby girl to arrive in March! I am believing for full healing and everyone in good health in 2017!

Again, happy 2017! I truly wish you all the very best this year! Let's partner with God and make it a great one!